The Story of the Kingdom of Winterheart

A Royal Beginning Prince Garrod was always a young fellow with ideas. He knew that one day he would have to take over the Kingdom as the oldest son should but in the mean time he wanted to see the world and discover new things. His time at Tispian University would give him not only a vocation, but as his father put it "a chance to find a nice young filly to breed good babies with" (!). Well that chance came sooner than Garrod thought. He spent his first year in dorms, to mix with the 'common' people. However he wasn't the only royal blood in the house. Princess Amberine was the third daughter of the King of Summerwood and was at the university to gain training before entering the nearby convent. They became firm friends almost instantly as they were often the only ones hanging around the chess room. Most of the other students were more interested in the new fangled 'tele-vision machine'. Their friendship grew and Garrod started to think he had found a lady he could not only depend on to keep the family line, but also someone he could actually talk to. Then one day came the terrible news. The Kingdom of Winterheart had been invaded by a ferocious dragon. Tragically the royal castle had been the dragon’s first target. His mother and sisters had all been killed instantly when the castle roof collapsed. In an act of revenge his father and two younger brothers rode out with as many men they could muster to slay the evil dragon. Many died that day, including the King and his second son, Jamel. Garrod’s youngest brother, Benah, had been the one to rally the troops and take them round for another try. Benah and the other men fought bravely. And when at last it looked as if they were never going to beat the dragon, Benah rode swiftly under the dragon’s belly, and pierced his heart with his sword. The menace gave out a cry and died, crashing to the ground, crushing poor Benah and his horse. Garrod cried for days after receiving the letter from home. He was the only one left…

Further news came a few days later in the appearance at the University of Garrod’s oldest friends, Duke Rubin of Malachite and Lord Silban of Tourmaline. Having been but pages during the fight they too saw their fathers and brothers killed. The only Kingdom elder left was Lord Silban’s uncle, Marquis of Hematite, who was ruling temporarily in Garrod’s absence. Rubin had a sealed letter from Garrod’s father, which outlined his wishes in the event of his death. Garrod took to his room to read the letter in private whilst his friends settled into University life. What he found in the letter was almost as a shock, as Garrod had been contemplating dropping out to return to the Kingdom immediately. ”Dearest Son. If you are reading this, then I am dead. I wish you to be my heir and rule the Kingdom wisely and fairly as I have always tried to do. Please look after your mother, sisters and brothers and when the time comes, look over their futures and secure good matches for them. If you are still at University then I plead with you to continue with your studies, if you do not have the teachings within you, how can you expect to pass them on to others. If you are missing for a few years then the world will not end. The peasant’s fields will continue to grow wheat, the merchants will continue to trade and the lords will continue to maintain order. But the Kingdom will be better for the absence and will prosper even more for your children to enjoy. I love you my son, and I look forward to our reunion in the afterlife. Your father, Gerin.” So that settled it, Garrod would continue with the next two year’s of his study. He chose to specialise in Mathematics, knowing this would be good in both peace and war. He also made the decision to propose to Amberine, promising her the would marry the day their university life was over.

Stone, Brook & Twig Stone Lel and Eraka tried to rebuild their lives after the destruction of their farm. They toiled for weeks and months building, planting and recapturing some of their livestock. Amongst all this they had time to conceive and give birth to 4 children - firstly twin girls, Llayl and Laed, and then twin boys, Eade and Eeto. The girls had just grown to toddlers by the time the boys were born. Amongst all of this Lel managed to progress in the royal army to the level of Drill Instructor and Eraka taught both girls their basic skills. They were well loved members of the community, often sharing their sparce food with their neighbours. The Twig's especially were having a harder time than they, and soon Eraka and Aosa became very firm friends. The day came for the girls to grow to children, and the boys to become toddlers. Eraka made a decision to hold a small party for them all, as it was a happy day, and she had even aquired a few gifts for her children. They were joined by the Twig family as well as the Dinars, one of the merchant families from the market quarter of town. The girls held hands as they grew up - and became pretty young girls. Llayl decided she liked the purple dress her mother had made, and chose to wear her hair in plaits, as it would keep her hair out of her way when she helped her mother with chores. Laed, chose the red dress and wanted to wear her hair longer, with only the sides pinned back in a clip, as she preferred to dance than do chores. She had already proved herself to be the less studious and carefree of the pair. The boys grew up from babies to toddlers and were presented with new toys - Eeto got a baby rabbit, and Eade got a music maker. Being but small the boys thought they were the most wonderful gifts ever and played for hours on end. It was the next day that the news reached them of the new King's decision. To help the kingdom rebuild it's self he would have to ask every family for contributions to a fund. Lel was outraged when he read the details - he had to give up 40% of his money, but the nobles only had to give up 20% - why was this? Surely they had more money to begin with anyway. He decided to go to the castle to plead with the King. updated 10th February 2006

Brook Unds and Uskelu are settling down to married life. Urnr & Undp

Twig Ans, Adt, Ytana & Yerth

Peso & Dinar Peso

Dinar

Back to the main Sims page